international association for shell and spatial structures



Felipe MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ

(1944- )
Honorary Membership 1999

 

Born in Spain in 1944, Felipe Martínez Martínez graduated as Civil Engineer at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, UPM. He was Assistant Professor of Mathematical Basis of Science and Technology at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of UPM, later on he was Professor of Hydraulic Engineering at the School of Public Works of UPM.

Much of the professional work carried out by Felipe Martínez Martínez was carried out at the Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX) from the Ministry of Public Works, now Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, where he started working at the Hydraulics Laboratory of the Hydrographic Research Center. Later on, he became, among other positions, Director of the Center for Ports and Coastal Studies, until he was appointed Director General of CEDEX. During this period, he promoted and developed the activity of the organization in the field of protection of the environment affected by public works, making CEDEX a reference organization in the field at a national and international level.

He promoted the incorporation to CEDEX of unique research facilities that were essential for Spain to have enough autonomy and full capacity to undertake the research and studies needed for the development of transport and hydraulic infrastructures, placing CEDEX and Spanish engineering at the top of the international scene.


Photo credit: José Manuel Galligo Estevez


At the international level, Felipe Martínez Martínez led the creation of the European Forum of Road Research Laboratories, FEHRL, of which he was President and member of the Board of Directors. He promoted that CEDEX, together with the main European Institutes, was a founding member of the annual meetings of Directors of Hydraulic Research Institutes. In addition, since 1997 CEDEX has been the headquarters of the Secretariat of the International Association for Hydraulic Research (IAHR), of which Felipe Martínez Martínez was a member of the Council and vice-president and, subsequently, named an Honorary member of this association.

He was very active in promoting in Spain the activities of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures, IASS, also in the organization of the 1999 Madrid IASS Symposium, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the association. He was named in 1999 a Distinguished member of the association.

Later on, he became in 2004 Director General of Merchant Navy of Spain, and President of the Maritime Rescue and Safety Society (SASEMAR), where he improved by large the capabilities of the units with advanced tools and rescue means for the search and rescue of shipwrecked people, the detection of sea water pollution and the creation of logistic centres to deal effectively with maritime emergencies. He has held various professional positions, such as vice president of the Maritime Engineering Laboratory of the Polytechnic University of Barcelona; Member of the Spanish Interministerial Commission and the Advisory Council of Science and Technology, as well as member of the Governing Councils of the Canal of Hydrodynamic Experiences of El Pardo and Puertos del Estado (Ports of the State). He has been member of the Council of Direction of various Spanish public companies.

He is currently a member of the Maritime and Marine Affairs Committee of the Spanish Institute of Engineering, where he actively participates.

He is the author of numerous reports, studies and projects, as well as publications, articles and conferences on topics of applied mathematics, hydraulics, ports and coasts and Civil Engineering technology. He has been Director, advisor, teacher and member of the teaching committee of several national and international courses.

In 2022, the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda of Spain awarded the National Civil Engineering Award to Felipe Martínez Martínez, after considering the outstanding qualities and circumstances that characterize his professional career. The National Civil Engineering Award is the highest Spanish Awrad in the field of Civil Engineering, an award granted annually, in accordance with the provisions of the Order of August 3, 2001, as an annual reward and recognition of the work carried out by a professional related to civil engineering. Since that year, nineteen awards have been awarded to prestigious professionals, designers, academic and buisnessmen  in this field. The merits of the candidates are assessed by the Jury of the Award with objective criteria, for which the social, economic, aesthetic and technological impact of their activity is taken into consideration.

The Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda expressed, in the conferral session, that the Award is given to Felipe Martínez Martínez “in recognition of his long, fruitful and brilliant work linked, throughout his professional career, to the Spanish State Administration with a clear vocation for public service. He has held different positions of responsibility in which he has demonstrated his great technical and management capacity, leading teams in various fields such as civil engineering, the environment and the merchant marine, promoting scientific and technological advances and undertaking and solving problems of a very varied nature”.

José Manuel Galligo Estevez



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